Compare towns

Springfield vs Middlesex vs Dummerston vs Grafton

Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..

What stands out worked out from the figures below

Springfield has the oldest population (median age 51.4).
Middlesex has the most people working from home (28.4%).
Dummerston has the shortest commute (21 min average).
Grafton has grown the fastest since 2010 (+3.4%).

What matters to you?

Pick a few. We’ll pull those rows to the top and mark which town comes out ahead on each. There’s no overall score: what matters is up to you.

MeasureSpringfieldMiddlesexDummerstonGrafton
People
Population
1,122Lowest
1,943
2,090Highest
1,354
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
-4%Lowest
U.S.: +7.4%
+2.8%
U.S.: +7.4%
+0.1%
U.S.: +7.4%
+3.4%Highest
U.S.: +7.4%
Median age
51.4±8.8Highest
32% above U.S.
44.4±3.9
14% above U.S.
45.6±11.7
17% above U.S.
43.1±10.6Lowest
11% above U.S.
Springfield and Dummerston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18
15.1%±8Lowest
U.S.: 22%
21.3%±3.1
U.S.: 22%
21.7%±6Highest
U.S.: 22%
21%±4.9
U.S.: 22%
Dummerston and Middlesex are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+
19.8%±1.6Lowest
U.S.: 17.2%
20.6%±3.7
U.S.: 17.2%
24.3%±3Highest
U.S.: 17.2%
21%±2.8
U.S.: 17.2%
Dummerston and Grafton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+
36.4%
U.S.: 35.7%
54.7%
U.S.: 35.7%
58.7%Highest
U.S.: 35.7%
24.7%Lowest
U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
0%±1.5Lowest
U.S.: 6.4%
5.2%±2.6Highest
U.S.: 6.4%
1.3%±1.1
U.S.: 6.4%
4.5%±2.8
U.S.: 6.4%
Middlesex and Grafton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian
$100,893±$19k
25% above U.S.
$109,632±$13kHighest
36% above U.S.
$101,696±$21k
26% above U.S.
$81,563±$22kLowest
about the U.S. average
Middlesex and Dummerston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$384,100±$50kHighest
15% above U.S.
$376,300±$40k
13% above U.S.
$335,300±$22k
about the U.S. average
$267,300±$23kLowest
20% below U.S.
Springfield and Middlesex are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,096±$217Lowest
22% below U.S.
$1,333±$359
6% below U.S.
$1,392±$126Highest
about the U.S. average
$1,243±$163
12% below U.S.
Dummerston and Middlesex are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly
$5,946
91% above U.S.
$6,483Highest
108% above U.S.
$4,536Lowest
45% above U.S.
$5,239
68% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
25.9%±64.8
U.S.: 51.1%
0%±100Lowest
U.S.: 51.1%
44.1%±32.2Highest
U.S.: 51.1%
32.1%±34.1
U.S.: 51.1%
Dummerston and Grafton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line
3.4%Lowest
U.S.: 12.5%
3.8%
U.S.: 12.5%
4.5%
U.S.: 12.5%
7.7%Highest
U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
90.7%
U.S.: 65.2%
96.7%Highest
U.S.: 65.2%
92.9%
U.S.: 65.2%
83.1%Lowest
U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1985
5 yrs newer than U.S.
1986Highest
6 yrs newer than U.S.
1971Lowest
9 yrs older than U.S.
1983
3 yrs newer than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
34 min
30% above U.S.
27 min
4% above U.S.
21 minLowest
21% below U.S.
43 minHighest
64% above U.S.
Work from home
16.7%±11.6Lowest
U.S.: 15.1%
28.4%±10.7Highest
U.S.: 15.1%
25.9%±10.3
U.S.: 15.1%
19.9%±6.8
U.S.: 15.1%
Middlesex and Dummerston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Schools
School district — Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 Windham Southeast Unified Union School District #96 —
High school in town — None in town None in town —
On TownTapestry
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U.S. average · Sources: U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-year estimates 2020–2024; 2010 & 2020 decennial census; NCES Common Core of Data. “±” is the Census margin of error. Property tax is top-coded by the Census at $10,000+. School rank compares math and reading proficiency against the state average.